December 11, 2020
Dear Prairie Avenue Family,
The latest surge of COVID-19 appears to be abating, and the Advent/Christmas season is in full swing with its altered gathering plans and events. I am encouraged that the precautions to avoid spread are working, and am grateful for your efforts. I am working on our first Longest night service and the necessary modifications for Christmas Eve. Our current COVID-19 policy is simple:
If you can access Prairie Avenue's Facebook or online worship page via computer, phone, or tablet, I expect you to stay home.
If you have no way to access such resources, we will continue to have a private worship service at 9 am Sunday.
We will go online only if an attendee tests positive or the 10 people or less in-person restriction is placed by local health or state officials.
I especially recognize this year the meaning of tradition involving the Christmas Eve service. In a year where in-person Easter was impossible, the desire to gather for Christmas may be especially strong. Likely we will offer both a small in-person opportunity (must be 25 people or less) and a live stream. Stay tuned!
WORSHIP THIS WEEKEND - Where We Belong-God's Unexpected Memory
What happens when you come home and it is not as you expected it to be? This weekend I will explore the declaration of God's redemption and restoration still on its way, even in the midst of devastation and ruin. Our passage in Isaiah is probably best associated with Jesus as his first sermon in Nazareth in the Gospel of Luke. Luke fills in the "blank" that is left by Matthew and Mark, who share the same story, but not the particular lesson that both amazes and angers the synagogue gathering. As the anointed agent of God's restoration, Jesus uses these words to clarify the mission of Good news to be spread, a year of jubilee.
Our memories can play tricks on us, often enforcing God's presence or absence in the timelines of life. In a season of jubilee, we often find God's presence in joy and God's absence in despair. God is present in both, whether seasons of joy or brokenness. Unexpectedly, God is here, there, and everywhere. Even when our memories of God are faulty or wrong.
As we light the candle of Joy this week, I want to encourage you to think of joy as something greater than personal happiness. It is the intersection where what needs to be done encounters what is deeply needed to be accomplished. It is not clear whether the one spoken about as the anointed is an individual or a community. Its ambiguity is our invitation, both as individuals and as members and participants in this community now present in the world as Prairie Avenue Christian Church. We bring good news. We declare a good celebration in the midst of a world held captive, in distress, hanging by a thread on hope. Will we rebuild the ruins to our memories, or to our dreams?
OTHER NEWS THIS WEEK
Livestreaming Equipment We are working with Rutherford video to develop our permanent studio installation for broadcast live from the sanctuary. There are some unspent Memorial funds that have been designated for this purpose, and work is anticipated to begin in the next couple of weeks, probably just after the Christmas season.
Thanksgiving Special Offering Thank you for your generous support of the Thanksgiving offering for Disciples-related institutions of higher learning and seminaries. Our current total is $150. You can still give to this offering through an online gift here.
Christmas Special Offering The Disciples Special Christmas Offering supports our regional church staff and programming. It provides support for the School of Ministry, an alternative to traditional seminary coursework to provide a certificate of pastoral ministry to serve as Commissioned Ministers. It helps maintain our regional campground at Camp Walter Scott in Effingham. 100% of offering receipts remain in the region. Please consider your generosity for these important ministries.
Longest Night Service Sunday, December 20, 7 pm Facebook LIVE People have undergone unprecedented loss this year. Family and friends have succumbed to death in this pandemic, millions have lost economic security through the loss of jobs, some have lost businesses they built over a lifetime. Most of us have lost our beloved rhythms of life that felt familiar and gave our lives the richness of gatherings and adventure. And we can name so many losses related to hatred and violence. The Advent wreath, usually crowned with three purple, one pink, and one white candle will be arranged with four blue candles and one white candle. Each of the blue candles will represent some aspect of loss, while the white candle represents Christ in the midst of our losses. During this meaningful service, we will recognize the loss of life, livelihood, love, and liveliness. We hope this new tradition will provide presence and purpose to those who may find it difficult to join in the joy of the festivities of this season.
See you in worship this weekend!
